What is the purpose of a victim impact statement?

A victim impact statement serves the important role of conveying how a crime has affected the victim on a personal and emotional level. This document allows victims to articulate their experiences, feelings, and the consequences they have faced as a result of the crime. It can include discussions about psychological trauma, physical injuries, financial losses, and changes in the victim’s lifestyle or sense of safety.

By giving victims a voice in the judicial process, these statements can significantly influence the court’s understanding of the crime's impact, ensuring that the emotional and psychological toll on the victim is recognized during sentencing. This humanizes the experience, providing deeper insights into the real effects of crime that go beyond just the legal aspects of the case. While other options may touch on related concepts, they do not specifically capture the essence of conveying the personal impact of a crime as effectively as this choice does.